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Day 1 report on Y&Y

Day 2 report on Y&Y

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Day One Report

^{Written by Will Taylor}

After long journeys for many up to North Berwick near Edinburgh, 93 entries were registered & a fleet of volunteers & sailors geared up for day one of the 2023 Noble Marine Rooster National Championships. Following on from a tactics talk, gate start seminar & championship briefing, we hit the water with all the knowledge needed to attack the race track.

Day one dawned sunny with 15-23 knots forecast. After a long downwind sail to the start area in the western bay we prepared for the race.

Leading the fleet away was pathfinder James & Jess Hammett. With 14-18 knots, tide on the ebb & land factors in play, the majority of the fleet headed left to gain the wind-shift advantage. By the end of the race Arran Holman & James Crossley had stamped their mark winning by a comfortable margin. Second to finish was Ian Martin crewed by Emma Clarke with Ben Whaley & Lorna Glen third.

Race two started in similar conditions with the family team of Will & Matt Taylor as pathfinder. At the top of the course, the breeze built & stayed at 24-26 resulting in lots of ‘thrills & spills’. Downwind was ‘holding on mode’ with Arran commenting that even he had to pull on more kicker to stop the mast inverting! Perhaps that was at the point when the Race Officer, Robbie Lawson, recorded a gust of 29 knots.

Arran & James took the victory again, with local sailors Brendan Lynch & Ellen Clark in second, followed by another podium finish for Ian & Emma.

With the increase in wind this was a true battle to get around the course, & avoid the many capsized boats. After two tough races, the fleet were happy to be heading to shore to repair boats & bruised bodies. The evening social of haggis & ceilidh were surprisingly well attended, considering the demands of the day. A third of the fleet are Scottish sailors so the tartan flowed on the dance floor. Quite a sight.

Day Two Report

 ^{Written by HENRY HALLAM}

The fleet were greeted by a westerly wind averaging 20 knots as they hurtled off the beach to the ‘West Bay’, for day two of the Noble Marine Rooster RS200 National Championships. The big question on everyone’s lips was - will the left side of the course still pay? Yes was the answer!

The first start got away with lots more jostling early on in the gate as most sailors ‘twigged’ which was the way to go. The race began in flatter waters, with the sea state turning to a messy chop by the windward mark. Ben Whaley & Lorna Glen led the way at the windward mark, having banged the left corner. A tight blast to the spreader before the daring crews edged forward to grab the kite halyards, with flashbacks of day one’s pitchpoles, clear in their minds. The downwind was action packed but thankfully more controlled, there were a few lead changes with Alex Smallwood & Callum Farden as the wind dropped, & the tide-driven swell increased. Eventually Ben & Lorna regained control with Brendan & Ellen taking 2^nd,  Alex & Callum in 3^rd.

Race two started in 8-10 knots. The wind shifted slightly throughout the race, making the left even more favoured. The messy sea state saw the crews working the boats hard, & helms focussing on the sails, ensuring that they weren’t oversheeting to keep the boats driving through the waves. The boats who went hardest left could tack & clear the fleet, & a drag race to the windward mark ensued. Ben & Lorna were again in front, followed by Arran & James, Ian & Emma then Alex & Callum. Helms looked nervously upwind to spot the next ‘puffs of wind’, modes changing from surfing to soaking. This was ‘brain-achingly difficult racing.

The waves built & the wind increased to 12-14 knots. By the 2^nd windward mark Arran & James were in front but another drop in pressure meant the battle was not over, Ben & Lorna picked the shifts & regained the lead at the final top mark. The race finished with Ben & Lorna in front, Arran & James in 2^nd, Ian & Emma completing the podium.

So with Ben & Lorna now matching Arran & James double race wins the battle continues.

Day 3 Report

^{Written by Adam Catlow}

Day three of the Noble Marine Rooster RS200 National Championships, was finally a day when everyone managed to make it out to the racecourse. With the wind dropping, we planed out to the East Bay course. The day was all about ‘soaking’ which made the downwind legs much more tactical.

The first race of the day started in 15 knots, & yet again left was the way to go. The whole fleet set off looking for the wind divergence hoping to pick the right place to tack onto the port lift. Arran & James managed to pull away from the fleet up the first beat. Hard on their heels were Ian & Emma who seemed to have a slight speed advantage in the marginal conditionals as the wind dropped. They took the lead on the final downwind. The top five or six boats seemed to have mastered the ‘chop’ & had pulled away from the bulk of the fleet. Race 5 finished with Ian & Emma in first, Arran & James in 2^nd with Scott Wallis & Emma Baker 3^rd.

The wind started to drop for race 6 making tactical decisions even more critical. Ben & Lorna were in front at the windward mark in 14 knots of breeze. Again, a core breakaway group battled it out at the front as the wind dropped to 12 knots by the finish. Nearer the middle of the fleet the crews had to work hard to pick the right downwind routes as here were where the biggest gains & losses could be made. Henry Hallam & Ashley Hill had some real downwind pace to overtake Arran & James & snatch 3^rd behind Ian & Emma in 2^nd with Ben & Lorna scoring another bullet.

The legendary RS200 fancy dress party kicked off with a delicious paella in the ELYC marquee. The Space theme saw lots of kitchen foil moulded into various disguises - see the RS200 Social media for pictures of the revelry!

Day 4 Report

Wrtten by Lorna Glen

Day four of the Noble Marine Rooster RS200 National Championships started with the fleet of sailors excited for a day of something new. After the past three days of ‘bang left sail fast’, a promising light easterly was forecast which could shake things up a little.

Eager sailors popped jibs up early; whilst others chose to go for a stroll around North Berwick, or even run up Berwick Law to prepare for the day. The fickle wind & slight haunt of fog in the distance, left some feeling pessimistic. The cracking race team were confident & launched the fleet on time.

The fleet arrived at the race area at the same time as a family of dolphins. The wind, however, decided to disappear. After a brief postponement Andrew Brown & Alex Sutcliffe (pathfinder) set off to open the gate in 6-8 knots. With most of the current top ten eager to get out early it was local sailors Brendan & Ellen who shot out the gate first. This was the place to be to gain a tide advantage, & the result was a 90 second lead at the first mark. Next round was Alex & Callum, closely followed by Arran & James with Henry & Ash in 4^th.

Throughout the fleet there were many gains & losses depending on whether you sailed into a calm patch or were blanketed by the fleet. At the front, with overall placings on the line, a brief dispute at the leeward gate, followed by a tacking battle, resulted in Ian & Arran meeting in the protest room later! The protest was dismissed & results stand.

With the left still paying it was back to the usual tactical decision, how soon to tack for the lay? The final downwind did cause a few place changes with leaders Brendan & Ellen taking the hard decision to place themselves between the leeward mark & the fleet. Alex & Callum gybed away at the windward mark found clear air & flew downwind to win race 7 in style. Brendan & Ellen held onto 2^nd, Henry & Ash overtook Arran & James to complete the podium.

Following another brief postponement the decision was made to raise AP over A, & the fleet were sent home.

The class AGM was held in the evening with important matters discussed regarding future nationals, open meetings & training plus the 2024 Eurocup. A huge thank you has to go out to all the ‘200’ committee for their continuous hard work behind the scenes.

Heading into the final day, the forecast is perfect & the intention is the complete the series with three races. One more discard means there is a whole lot to play for. This could be an epic final showdown.

Day 5 Report by Debbie Jarvis - Congratulations to the worthy winners Arran Holman & James Crossley. 

The Noble Marine Rooster RS200 National Championships finished with three races in champagne sailing conditions. The fleet launched in 12 knots but it was gusting 20. For the first time this week there were land influences to contend with, not just tide. Race Officer Robbie Lawson postponed due to a last minute left shift. But shortly after the fleet were off.

The battle between the yellow bibs & blue bibs was fierce but Arran & James stretched their legs & also their lead overall with another race win but the points between them meant the championship was still too close to call. Ben & Lorna made use of their discard after missing the gate.

In Race 9 & the first start was aborted due to a 30 degree left shift, then the wind got really ‘fruity’, lots of capsizes as the fleet got tired, & a gust of 28 knots caught a few of the front guys out too.  The front runners were starting to match race each other allowing Tom Goodey & Richard Thomas to continue their cracking day, with a 4^th in race 8, & now leading in race 9 from start to finish. Arran & James were 2^nd which was enough to secure the title. Owen Bowerman & Annabelle Orme were flying today too, & took 3^rd. Ben & Lorna climbed from mid fleet to 5^th so the race was on for the other podium places.

The final race of the championship was a master class from Owen & Annabelle giving them the race win from Ewan Wilson & Morven Wood.

The championship prizegiving was held on the green at ELYC overlooking Bass Rock. The class chairman Will Taylor thanked the club for hosting a superb event both on & off the water and the sponsors Noble Marine and Rooster.

Congratulations to the worthy winners Arran Holman & James Crossley.

A raffle had been running all week to raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The winner was Brendan & Ellen from ELYC so popular sailors to win the RS200 spinnaker.

Full list of Prize Winners :

RS200 Person of the Year - Brendan Lynch

Jon Lewis Trophy – Alex Colquit & Zoe Nieveen

Fernhurst Books Endeavour Prize – Will Hopes & Emma Bennett

Buddy Team – Tom Goodey & Richard Thomas / Ewan Wilson & Morven Wood/ Oliver Jagger & Freddie Scott

Top University – Strathclyde

Top Club – Hayling Island Sailing Club

1^st All Lady Team – Jocelyn & Emily Hill

1^st Lady Helm – Anna Sturrock

1^st Junior Helm – Roo Pervis

1^st Youth Helm & Youth Boat – Jamie Harris & Ellen Main

1^st Junior Boat – Callum Mason & Ben Hay

1^st Family – M.J. & Rory Gifford

1^st We are Family – James & Jess Hammett

1^st Loving Cup – Brendan Lynch & Ellen Clark

1^st Bronze – Adam & Martin Catlow

1^st Silver – Mark Oakey & Jess Smith

1^st Grand Master – Steve Cockerill

1^st Master – Robbie Burns